Patriots new QB Matt Flynn not focusing on competition

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(6/16/15) Perhaps Matt Flynn was signed by the Patriots as a veteran who can take over for Tom Brady if the latter fails to overturn his four-game suspension. Perhaps he was merely signed to provide depth.

Flynn doesn't want to talk about either of those possibilities. He's too busy learning.

"It's always tough going to a different team," he told NESN. "You have this huge task of learning the new offense, and that's what I'm in the middle of right now - just trying to cram as much information as I can right now and forget about the old offense."

Flynn isn't concerned at the moment with competing against Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been deemed the starter in Brady's potential absence.

"I don't look at it as anything," Flynn said. "Right now I have a big task ahead of me and that's learning the playbook. That's the only thing I'm thinking of right now, and that's the only thing they're telling me to do right now is learn."

Report: Patriots sign quarterback Matt Flynn

Flynn had worked out for the team Wednesday. In seven career starts, Flynn has totaled 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Packers in title game: Biggest underdogs ever with Aaron Rodgers

by Larry Hartstein | Senior Analyst

(1/11/15) The Packers opened as 7-point underdogs in next Sunday's NFC Championship Game at Seattle -- the biggest underdogs they've ever been with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, reports Pro Football Talk. Early action on Seattle pushed the line to 7.5 at most sportsbooks.

Citing the Spreadapedia database, PFT said the Packers have never closed as underdogs of seven or more points in any of Rodgers' 113 starts, including playoffs.

In fact, according to PFT, only once has Green Bay been even a 6-point dog with Rodgers starting. It happened in 2010 at the Jets, and the Packers won 9-0.

In Mike McCarthy's nine-year tenure, the Packers have been underdogs of a touchdown or more only three times. Two came in 2006 before Rodgers took over as the fulltime starter. In 2010, with Matt Flynn starting, Green Bay was a 14.5-point underdog at New England.

The large spread next Sunday stems from Seattle's home dominance, the Seahawks' season-opening 36-16 win over the Packers, and Rodgers' calf injury, which has all but eliminated his mobility.

In the AFC Championship Game, New England opened as a 7-point favorite over Indianapolis. The line was holding as of late Sunday night.

Rodgers indicated he might miss practice time this week because of a lingering calf injury. However, it doesn't appear the injury will keep him sidelined for Sunday's game.

"It feels better," Rodgers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday. "We'll see what happens this week, as far as practice reps. Everybody's so concerned about them. I'm not. And my teammates aren't either. We'd like to get out there at some point and move around a little bit. It just depends on how I'm feeling."

The Packers are 6-point favorites for Sunday's playoff game.

Packers get offensive contributions

by Larry Hartstein | Senior Analyst

(11/16/14) The Packers got a slew of contributions in their Week 11 blowout of the Eagles. Among them, tight end Andrew Quarless caught both his targets for 35 yards, and tight end Richard Rodgers had a 19-yard grab.

Running back James Starks carried eight times for 9 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards. Fullback John Kuhn added a 3-yard carry.

01/28/2015 00:10Super Bowl 49: Seattle Seahawks' top 5 NFL Draft decisions
Since inheriting a 5-11 club in 2010, head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have completely overhauled the roster, making roughly 900 roster transactions. Sure, the trade for Marshawn Lynch and free agent signing of Michael Bennett were big. The lifeblood of these Seahawks, however, is through the annual NFL draft.